As far as I know, Rabies is not treated by vaccination after exposition. It is already too late. But you can produce "serum", that is a concentrate of antibodies injected in your blood straem that will protect you. That is what Pasteur did, and is still done (at the Pasteur insttute for instance, but also in many places) Rabies vaccination can be performed, but is usually avoided if not absolutely necessary because it has painful side effects (I know, I have been offered to receive it to help a colleague, I declined first because I didn"t really want to experience the fever that went with the vaccination, and neither to help behead dead frozen animals to send for rabies confirmation ).

Patrick

Science has proof without any certainty. Creationists have certainty without
any proof. (Ashley Montague)

bionewbie wrote:So, why rabies can be treated with active vaccination after exposure or infection has occurred?

hehe...sorry for the mistake on the previous post..Ok, now it's for the correct one, why?? because rabies (family Rhabdoviridae; genus Lyssavirus) need time to amplificate itself....this kind of amplification takes place in kidney, submaxillary gland, muscles and liver before they go to the next stage which is invading to the CNS (central nervous system).
I think, based on my book...that's the reason..I hope you get the point.

Q: Why are chemists great for solving problems?
A: They have all the solutions.

What does the postexposure treatment include?An exposed person who has never received any rabies vaccine will first receive a dose of rabies immune globulin (a blood product that contains antibodies against rabies), which gives immediate, short-term protection. This shot should be given in or near the wound area.

The postexposure treatment also includes five doses of rabies vaccine. The first dose should be given as soon as possible after the exposure. Additional doses should be given on days three, seven, 14, and 28 after the first shot. These shots should be given in the deltoid muscle of the arm. Children can also receive the shots in the muscle of the thigh. Properly administered postexposure treatment for rabies has never been known to fail.